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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk2CO">
 <div class="chapter ch11" data-usfm="2CO.11">
 <div class="label">11</div><div class="s1">Paul and the False Apostles</div><div class="p"> 1I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent&#8217;s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.</div><div class="p"> 5I do not think I am in the least inferior to those &#8220;super-apostles.&#8221;#11:5 Or to the most eminent apostles 6I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!</div><div class="p"> 12And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.</div><div class="s1">Paul Boasts About His Sufferings</div><div class="p"> 16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!</div><div class="p">Whatever anyone else dares to boast about&#8212;I am speaking as a fool&#8212;I also dare to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham&#8217;s descendants? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?</div><div class="p"> 30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk1SA">
 <div class="chapter ch9" data-usfm="1SA.9">
 <div class="label">9</div><div class="s1">Samuel Anoints Saul</div><div class="p"> 1There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. 2Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.</div><div class="p"> 3Now the donkeys belonging to Saul&#8217;s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, &#8220;Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.&#8221; 4So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.</div><div class="p"> 5When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, &#8220;Come, let&#8217;s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 6But the servant replied, &#8220;Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let&#8217;s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 7Saul said to his servant, &#8220;If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8The servant answered him again. &#8220;Look,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I have a quarter of a shekel#9:8 That is, about 1/10 ounce or about 3 grams of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.&#8221; 9(Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire of God, they would say, &#8220;Come, let us go to the seer,&#8221; because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)</div><div class="p"> 10&#8220;Good,&#8221; Saul said to his servant. &#8220;Come, let&#8217;s go.&#8221; So they set out for the town where the man of God was.</div><div class="p"> 11As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water, and they asked them, &#8220;Is the seer here?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12&#8220;He is,&#8221; they answered. &#8220;He&#8217;s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. 13As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 14They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.</div><div class="p"> 15Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16&#8220;About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 17When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, &#8220;This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 18Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, &#8220;Would you please tell me where the seer&#8217;s house is?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 19&#8220;I am the seer,&#8221; Samuel replied. &#8220;Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 21Saul answered, &#8220;But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited&#8212;about thirty in number. 23Samuel said to the cook, &#8220;Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24So the cook took up the thigh with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, &#8220;Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion from the time I said, &#8216;I have invited guests.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221; And Saul dined with Samuel that day.</div><div class="p"> 25After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house. 26They rose about daybreak, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, &#8220;Get ready, and I will send you on your way.&#8221; When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together. 27As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, &#8220;Tell the servant to go on ahead of us&#8221;&#8212;and the servant did so&#8212;&#8220;but you stay here for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk1SA">
 <div class="chapter ch10" data-usfm="1SA.10">
 <div class="label">10</div><div class="p"> 1Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul&#8217;s head and kissed him, saying, &#8220;Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?#10:1 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate over his people Israel? You will reign over the Lord&#8217;s people and save them from the power of their enemies round about. And this will be a sign to you that the Lord has anointed you ruler over his inheritance: 2When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel&#8217;s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, &#8216;The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, &#8220;What shall I do about my son?&#8221;&#8198;&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 3&#8220;Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. 4They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.</div><div class="p"> 5&#8220;After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. 6The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.</div><div class="p"> 8&#8220;Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Saul Made King</div><div class="p"> 9As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul&#8217;s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 10When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. 11When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, &#8220;What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12A man who lived there answered, &#8220;And who is their father?&#8221; So it became a saying: &#8220;Is Saul also among the prophets?&#8221; 13After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place.</div><div class="p"> 14Now Saul&#8217;s uncle asked him and his servant, &#8220;Where have you been?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;Looking for the donkeys,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 15Saul&#8217;s uncle said, &#8220;Tell me what Samuel said to you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16Saul replied, &#8220;He assured us that the donkeys had been found.&#8221; But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.</div><div class="p"> 17Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah 18and said to them, &#8220;This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: &#8216;I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.&#8217; 19But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, &#8216;No, appoint a king over us.&#8217; So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 20When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri&#8217;s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22So they inquired further of the Lord, &#8220;Has the man come here yet?&#8221;</div><div class="p">And the Lord said, &#8220;Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 23They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24Samuel said to all the people, &#8220;Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.&#8221;</div><div class="p">Then the people shouted, &#8220;Long live the king!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes.</div><div class="p"> 26Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. 27But some scoundrels said, &#8220;How can this fellow save us?&#8221; They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPSA">
 <div class="chapter ch53" data-usfm="PSA.53">
 <div class="label">53</div><div class="cl">Psalm 53#In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.</div><div class="d">For the director of music. According to mahalath.#Title: Probably a musical term A maskil#Title: Probably a literary or musical term of David.</div><div class="q1"> 1The fool says in his heart,</div><div class="q2">&#8220;There is no God.&#8221;</div><div class="q1">They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;</div><div class="q2">there is no one who does good.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 2God looks down from heaven</div><div class="q2">on all mankind</div><div class="q1">to see if there are any who understand,</div><div class="q2">any who seek God.</div><div class="q1"> 3Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;</div><div class="q2">there is no one who does good,</div><div class="q2">not even one.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 4Do all these evildoers know nothing?</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1">They devour my people as though eating bread;</div><div class="q2">they never call on God.</div><div class="q1"> 5But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,</div><div class="q2">where there was nothing to dread.</div><div class="q1">God scattered the bones of those who attacked you;</div><div class="q2">you put them to shame, for God despised them.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 6Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!</div><div class="q2">When God restores his people,</div><div class="q2">let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!</div>
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